Local Meat vs. Local Pushback: Why Small Slaughterhouses Deserve a Fair Shot

Securing market access for nearby farms isn’t a luxury—it’s basic food security and real food sovereignty.

The question isn’t whether to protect neighborhoods; it’s whether a tightly conditioned, small-scale plant can coexist and actually strengthen the community.

When McHenry County, Illinois approved a conditional-use permit for a small slaughterhouse outside Woodstock, it touched every nerve in the modern food debate. Neighbors worried about odor, wells, traffic and property values. Farm families saw something else: a chance to replace lost kill-slots, shorten haul distances, stabilize 4-H and custom processing, and keep more food dollars circulating locally. The county board, after months of scrutiny and a 13–5 vote, decided to say yes—with conditions.